Lycopene

Lycopene is a carotenoid found in greatest quantity in tomatoes. Like other carotenoids, lycopene is a strong antioxidant that works mainly on the fatty components of the tissues (which includes the cell membranes) for the simple reason that it is fat-soluble. Lycopene's availability form tomatoes is greatest from organic tomatoes; better from ripe ones; and much better from cooked tomatoes - the cooking disrupts the cell walls of the tomatoes and thus makes the lycopene easier to absorb. In fact, tomatoes are probably the one food that is best eaten fried, if only because that way the lycopene is better absorbed in combination with the oil the tomatoes are fried in. Use a stable oil such as extra-virgin olive oil though!
Lycopene has been researched for helping with the reduction of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even male infertility. It has a particularly good reputation for the prevention of prostate cancer, and is often a part of male health supplements intended to help the health of the male reproductive system.
Lycopene for use in supplements is usually extracted from a fungus specially grown for the purpose, rather than from tomatoes or other red fruits such as papaya. However, lycopene from this source is chemically identical, and identical in function, to the lycopene from tomatoes, and a great deal cheaper than lycopene extracted from tomatoes would be!
Lycopene is best used in combination with other antioxidants such as vitamin E and the other carotenoids, and in fact is often found in combination with such nutrients in lycopene supplements. Lycopene is also best absorbed when dissolved in oil in the capsule and/or taken with a meal containing fat. Like many other supplements, lycopene is rather poorly absorbed if taken away from meals.
Lycopene supplements will probably help just about everyone, and it has no side effects known. However, lycopene is particularly useful for men and even more particularly useful for men over approximately 45.